House Making Way For Station

POQUOSON — Motorists can expect some minor traffic delays today as a house is moved along Poquoson Avenue to make way for a new fire station.

About 7 a.m., Expert House Movers is scheduled to move the single-story house from its current Poquoson Avenue location, adjacent to Poquoson's Fire Station No. One, to an empty lot at the intersection of Poquoson Avenue and Little Florida Road, said Jim Beach, Poquoson's clerk of the works.

The house was previously owned by the city but has been sold, and its relocation will open space for construction of a new $2.9-million fire house to replace the city's easternmost fire station that was damaged beyond repair in 2003 during Hurricane Isabel.

Moving the house required partial removal of the roof so that electrical lines could be avoided and will shut down Poquoson Avenue for about 45 minutes. A gate will be opened behind Poquoson Middle School to allow traffic to bypass the blocked area if necessary, Beach said.

Poquoson Police Chief Cliff Bowen said police, fire and other city personnel would be on hand to help direct traffic, but an official detour would not be set up while the house makes the trip of less than a mile. The route behind the school would be used for traffic and emergency vehicles if needed, he said.

Contractor David Nice's low bid of $2.9 million to construct the fire station was accepted by Poquoson's City Council in November. The approximately 12,000-square-foot facility will be constructed on a site raised about 10 feet above the current five feet above sea level elevation to reduce the threat of future flooding.

When built, the new structure will include power generators, a three-bay garage, day room, meeting and training rooms, bunk rooms, a weight room and kitchen. Construction is expected to take just short of a year. The new facility is scheduled to be operational by early 2009.

"The contractor is ready to start once this operation is done," Beach said, of Saturday's move.